P'burg Man Sentenced To N.j. State Prison For Selling Cocaine

A Phillipsburg man was sentenced to state prison yesterday for cocaine distribution.

Frank Wikoff, 38, of Washington Street was sentenced in Warren County Court to three years in New Jersey State Prison for two counts of cocaine distribution. He was fined $2,350.

Wikoff sold 0.18 of a gram of cocaine to a confidential informant in Alpha on Oct. 26 and 1.41 grams to the informant in Phillipsburg on Nov. 19.

Also sentenced was Julio Garcia, 22, of Forest Street, Easton, formerly of Washington Street, Phillipsburg. Garcia was sentenced to three years probation and 100 hours of community service for simple assault and harassment. He was fined $60.

On Nov. 27, 1991, in Phillipsburg, Garcia struck his girlfriend, Cathy Dunaway, in the face during an argument. He also threatened to shoot her in the head.

Kelly Ruta, also known as Francis Kelly Ruta, 20, of Chambers Street, Phillipsburg, was sentenced to three years' probation and 100 hours of community service for simple assault. He was fined $125. A charge of terroristic threats was dismissed under a plea agreement.

On Dec. 26, Ruta struck Jeffrey Anthony, 16, on the back several times with a metal hammer-like object outside Anthony's Chamber Street home. He also threatened Melody Anthony and the rest of her family on several occasions, saying he would burn down their home.

Warren Trauger, 29, of Lock Street, Phillipsburg, was resentenced on a conviction for terroristic threats and weapons possession as a result of an appellate court ruling. The appellate court upheld Trauger's conviction on charges of simple assault, terroristic threats and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, but the court ruled that he could not be given two extended sentences.

As per the appellate court ruling, Trauger was sentenced to seven years in state prison for terroristic threats and will not be eligible for parole for 3-1/2 years. For possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, Trauger was sentenced to a concurrent five-year sentence instead of the original seven-year sentence. For simple assault, he was given a six-month concurrent sentence. Trauger was given 490 days' credit for time served.

On Aug. 14, 1989, Trauger went to the Phillipsburg home of Herbert Erickson. Trauger argued with Erickson and Mark Tiller. Tiller had testified that Trauger threatened to kill Erickson and had pulled out a knife. Tiller wrestled with Trauger while Erickson called police.